Random Ramblings

I have been terrible at keeping up with this blog thing over the last few weeks. Things have been pretty busy as of late. We sold our house, which we didn't think would happen in six weeks, and we are awaiting God's direction for our next step. School is almost out, which is very hard to believe. I am having a hard time with the fact that L is finishing Kindergarten and K will start Preschool next year. Where has the time gone?

I wanted to share a few funny stories before I leave blogger world (probably for several weeks again!) Last week, I was tucking L in and I heard K saying something from his room. My husband went in to check on him, and K was saying (loudly, but as calm as could be) "I'm scared. I'm scared." My husband asked what was wrong, and again K said (calm as ever) "I'm scared." I guess he hasn't learned yet that if he is going to fake it, he needs to put some emotion into it. :)

I went to L's school several weeks ago to help with her class Easter party. Her teacher told me that L is very good at raising her hand when she needs something, but if they don't get to her right away, she starts trying to get their attention by clearing her throat and fake coughing. I guess I won't have to ever worry about her getting overlooked by not speaking up.

K calls the lawnmower the "wawnmower" (he can't pronounce his L's) and he loves to sit on it and pretend he is driving. We went to WalMart the other day and now for some reason he calls the lawnmower the "walmart".

L's new love language with Hubby is hitting him. Anytime he says something funny, she stops whatever she is doing, goes over to him, and hits him. That's our sweet little girl.

I guess that's it for now. I'll return to blogger world in a few weeks.

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. When I was little, I often wondered why we called it "Good" Friday - I mean it is the day that Jesus died, after all. But as I got older it became clear to me - it was "Good" Friday because by His death and, more importantly, His resurrection, He brought salvation! We were doomed to an eternity apart from God because of our sins. But, praise God, He made a way for us! The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) That "falling short of the glory of God" is what dooms us to an eternity without Him. But, that's not the end of the story - Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." "While we were still sinners" - can you imagine dying for someone so unlovely as us? That's exactly what Jesus did - the Son of God, perfect in every way, CHOSE to die for us...so that we could spend eternity with God. We also learn in Romans "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). "Saved" - what a beautiful word - saved from an eternity separated from the love of God. I praise God that at the age of 12, He called my name and I asked Him to be my Savior. All we must do is confess with our mouth and BELIEVE in our hearts, and He will save us. I thank God that He has made a way! Do you know Him?

Funny Stuff...

This week, we have pretty much been stuck inside because little man has had pneumonia. My mom came Tuesday to help rescue me, so I was able to get out of the house for church Wednesday night and WalMart yesterday. Honestly though, the week inside hasn't been that bad. I've really enjoyed spending some good snuggle time with my sick little boy and getting a few things done around the house. I had to post a few funny things that my kids have done this week to keep me laughing. Bear with me - since I no longer have the will to scrapbook, this blogging thing is my scrapbook of sorts. One day I am going to print all my posts and make a book with it.

When I picked L up from school Monday, I told her K was sick with pneumonia. The obvious question then: "Mom, what is pneumonia?" I told her it was when you have "stuff" down in your lungs. The next obvious question: "What kind of stuff?" "Mucous", I replied (couldn't think of a better word). And, you guessed it, another question: "Momma, what is mucous?" So I told her. The next morning, my sweet friend Tania came to pick L up for school. She called me right after dropping L and her little girl off at school to tell me what L had said. Oh no. She said she asked how K was doing and L said, "He has pneumonia." Then she leaned over to Tania's daughter, like she was going to tell her a secret and said, "Hey, do you know what mucous is?" I'm sure my adorable little girl has told everyone she knows what "mucous" is.

K's favorite saying comes from Charlie Brown, and it's "Hey, what's going on here?" Surprisingly, he knows exactly when this saying is appropriate. The other night I was bathing the kids and the bathtub drain popped up just a little, which makes this horrible moaning noise. K turned around quickly in the tub and said, "HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" He has also learned a new saying. His new favorite movie is "Madagascar 2". Let me warn you before you buy the movie, there are a few questionable things about it, though it is not the worst kids' movie I have ever seen. Since his favorite movie was "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" (thanks to his sister), we are pretty happy that "Madagascar 2" has taken reign as his favorite now. Anyway, in the movie one of the animals says, "What the heck is going on?" You know where this is going, right? Out of all the lines in the movie, that's the one my son picked up on. While my mom was here helping me this week, Hubby, L and I went to church Wednesday night. K and Nana were sitting at the table eating supper when we left. We walked out the door, he turned around and looked at the door and then said, "What the heck is going on here?" Oh, the things they pick up... I'm not even sure how to end this post (I'm sure I'm supposed to end it by trying to rationalize or justify why we have let him watch this movie over and over again, but I won't). I'll just say that he definitely won't be watching the first Madagascar movie anytime soon. Somehow I don't think I want him going to school, church, the grocery store, and anywhere else where other people are, saying, "Darn you all! Darn you all to heck!" (Yes, they really say that in the first Madagascar)...

My Expensive Lapse of Sanity

My last post detailed our most recent doctor's office visit - a check-up for Lindsey last week. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought, "Hmmmm....going to the doctor's office with all these germs floating around is probably not the best idea." What did I do? You guessed it...completely ignored the voice of reason trying to talk to me. I knew I had made a serious mistake when K decided to lick the side of the bathroom sink at Children's Medical - nice. I knew I would be paying for my "lapse of sanity", as I am now calling it. Well, today the bill came for this temporary insanity. I took K to the dr. today, fully convinced he had the flu. Nope, I was wrong. His flu test was negative. Instead, he has pneumonia. So Dr. Myers sent us home with an antibiotic and instructions to call her in a few days if he is not doing much better. My lapse of sanity cost a total of $134, plus all the time we'll be stuck inside all week. So, if you're ever thinking of taking your children to the doctor for check-ups in the WINTER (I am so dumb!), please call me first so I can bring you back to your senses. One positive aspect of this - K is too little to understand that it's really my fault that he is sick. And none of my friends reading this will ever tell him....right? :)

Calling ALL Germs!!!

Attention, attention! Calling all germs! If you are a nasty germ at Children's Medical Group, our son would just LOVE to meet you. Okay, I guess I'll back up here. Today, I made a very amateur mommy mistake, one that I am quite sure I'll be paying for later. I took my very healthy children to the doctor's office for routine check-ups. This would not normally be a problem, but the flu has been ravaging our town (and everyone else's from what I understand) for several weeks. For those of you who know me, you know that I am **somewhat** of a germaphobe. I keep my bottle of hand sanitizer with me all the time, especially in the winter, and I usually have Wet One antibacterial wipes with me too. I thought I was going to lose it in the doctor's office today. Every time I turned around, K was sticking his fingers in his mouth, in his eyes, or up his nose. If there was any chance of us getting out of there without some dread disease, he blew that chance when we went to the bathroom to get a urine sample from L. As I held the cup under her, (sorry for the mental picture, but that's mommyhood) trying very gently to say "HURRY PLEASE!!", he decided the most productive use of his time would be to put his mouth all over the side of the bathroom sink. I was so proud of this creative use of time. When I checked out I told the sweet receptionist that we would be seeing them again in 7-10 days. I can only imagine the little germs breeding in his little body. Oh, and I cancelled his check-up appointment for tomorrow (as if he hasn't been exposed already to EVERY germ in this city!!)

The Girl-catchers

I love picking L up from school and hearing all about her day. Yesterday, she got in the car all sweaty and I asked I they had gotten to play outside (duh, of course they had, but I wanted her to tell me about it). She told me that she and two of her friends had to run from "The Girl Catchers". When I inquired further about this, she told me that there were a group of boys on the playground chasing and catching some of the little girls and that the girls had to work so hard to fight them off. How funny! Today, she was helping me cook supper and I inquired if the "Girl Catchers" had been back in action today. She said no and then said, "Hard times only come around every now and then." I asked her what she meant and she said (in her most dramatic voice), "It was terrible being chased by those Girl Catchers. I don't think I'll have to go through anything that terrible again for a while." I hope not (and I'm sure her Daddy does too!!)

It Won't Be Like This For Long

I just heard a new song on the radio - Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This for Long" - it's now the first song on our playlist (turn up your speakers and get out your Kleenex). Although I haven't quite gotten used to Hootie and the Blowfish's lead singer now singing country music, this is a great song. I guess it's the new version of "Butterfly Kisses". The song chronicles the life of a little girl and her daddy, and it could just as easily chronicle a mom/daughter or a father/son or a mother/son relationship. So sweet. The point of the song is just how fast they grow up. If you've read some of my previous posts, you know we just celebrated our daughter's sixth birthday and our son's third birthday. I cannot believe what a whirlwind it has all been. I feel like I am in a car going ninety miles per hour and all I can see out the windows is one big blur - I want to scream "STOP!!! SLOW DOWN!!!" but I know it won't do any good. Time is flying by, and the best we parents can do is hang on and enjoy every second of it. This song reminds me of bringing our own baby girl home and being up all night, many nights - it won't be like this for long. Or dropping our son off at Mom's Morning Out, where he cried the entire time, two days every week, for six weeks - it won't be like this for long. Or the fight L and I had yesterday because apparently I bought the wrong kind of crayons (yes, that's right, the wrong kind of crayons) - it won't be like this for long. Pretty soon that baby girl and baby boy will be all grown up and gone - it won't be like this for long...

Sorry to be such a downer today - the weather outside is yucky, I just heard this super-sappy song, you get the picture. What a precious gift God has given us in our children - try to enjoy every day!!